Miss Philippines is Miss Earth 2015 (Complete Review)

Angelia Ong from The Philippines won the crown at the Miss Earth contest giving it a back to back for the Philippines, the first in Miss Earth history and the third Filipino to win the crown. She won the crown over many favourites such as Panama, Myanmar, USA, Thailand, Mongolia, Australia etc. Angelia is a beautiful woman with a likable personality, but I wasn’t expecting her to win since, in my opinion, I had my favourites whom I thought were much better and last year winner was from the Philippines, so it would be very difficult for her to win the crown. But in the end the distinguished judges decided to choose her. Whether one likes it or not, one has to move on. I am moving on too by writing the review of the contest which I love doing.

The show started with last year winner, Jamie Harrell, welcoming the viewers in a pre-taped video giving a message on protecting Mother Earth and  each contestant of Miss Earth 2015 joined her who said few lines or words about conservation, protecting, awareness, etc, of Mother Earth. That was a fantastic way to open the contest and we got to see a glimpse of each contestant. I truly find this unique and a great way to showcase its motto. Once it was over, the actual live started and Jamie Harrell came on stage wearing a white gown with shiny silver linings and gems on the gown. She looked so regal and it looked like she was one of the contestants shining like a star. The contestants wearing a white shirt and red short pants joined her on stage dancing to a very upbeat music for the introduction round. In the introduction segment, some contestants left me spellbound. They were Misses Australia, Chile, Ghana, Mongolia, Panama, Thailand and USA. Some contestant beautifully described their country like Miss Belize said she was the from the land of Earth’s best kept secret, Ghana was the gateway to the West Africa, Guadalupe – an island of butterflies. Miss Crimea had to adjust the microphone; Miss Kosovo checked the microphone twice if it worked or not before introducing herself. Love the way Miss Hungary strongly emphasized the word ‘Beautiful’ twice to her country name.

Oli Pettigrew and Joey Mead King.

The hosts of the night were Oli Pettigrew, Katia Wagner and Joey Mead King. Oli Pettigrew and Joey Mead King took to the centre stage most of the time while Katia Wagner Miss Earth Air 2013 interacted with the audience most of the time. Oli and Joey were just fabulous. What a fantastic hosts. Such an amazing chemistry. Oli, particularly, was so lively and animated with a little bit a drama. It was delightful to watch her. Oli and Joey reminded me of the time Megan Young and Frankie Cena hosted Mr. World and Miss World contest. I was missing them both a lot. Not many can crack chemistry like theirs. Now, Oli and Joey will definitely be one of the best hosts in pageant history. Katia also did a wonderful job as a host. It might have been nerve wrecking for her as well. but she did fine and gave a good supporting role to the Oli and Joey.

Back to the contest, one major glitch was the break timings. During the break, they would show pre-activities of Miss Earth 2015 but ended so soon and it goes directly live to the hosts which caught the host off guard a few times. I guess it was the poor timing of the breaks.  Anyway, the hosts always entertained with their wits and homours. It was time for the top 16 announcements. That was fast! But before that, the top 4 of Miss Eco Award were announced and they were Misses Belgium, France, Mongolia and USA. I especially like the video of Mongolia and USA. Thought Mongolia would win this award, instead, USA was chosen as the winner of Miss Eco.

Top 16 were announced and they were Misses Hungary, USA, Ukraine, Australia, Czech Republic, Brazil, Mongolia, Philippines, Mauritius, Scotland, Austria, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, France and Guam. What a surprise top 16. Seriously, I was thinking continuously how Panama, Thailand and Myanmar could be left out of the top 16. There was a continuous questioning about where did they go wrong. Panama was the one I kept thinking of. To move forward, it was pretty interesting how the hosts – Oli and Joey, described the country who made it to the top 16 before actually calling them just to entertain us and keep us guessing the country names. They were smart and intelligent. Actually I was beginning to enjoy their part more than the other activities.

The top 16 competed in the swimsuit round. “Sparks” by Hilary Duff, used as the background, was just amazing. I love every beat of the music and it’s perfect for a swimsuit round. Some contestants really match up to the beat of the song and set the stage on fire. Hungary was the first to start and she gave a decent performance to start the round. Her flat abs was to die for, but the bottom part looked a bit heavy and she bounces a lot. USA was next. She almost tripped. Her sweet smile and amazing stage presence made her looked like a star. Ukraine followed. Such a beautiful face and she seemed to be having fun. Love the smile but her catwalk lacked the punch. Australiawas just outstanding. Gorgeous and such a bubbly personality, she has an impeccable stage presence. One of the best of the night. Czech Republic looked so fresh. Her straight hair looked so silky and love the way she let it fall straight in front. Great body with a beautiful face. Brazil has got the move, the body and the presence to charm you. They always do. I think they are born with it. Mongolia looked great. She got a loud cheer from the audience. She is so sweet and unconventionally beautiful with a well-toned body. That makes her unique. The crowd favourite was next – Philippines. She might not be facially pretty, but she has got a body that is perfect for swimsuit competition and a sweet persona. But somehow her overall energy in this round was lacking. Mauritius looked pretty and very natural, but she was so stiff when she walked and turned. This is a big achievement for Mauritius considering it hardly gets into the semis in any pageants. I think this will be a big boost for her and countrymen. Scotlandlooked so angelic but sadly she had a not so good body for this round and she was a bit slow in her catwalk. The home town girl was next. Austria was just so beautiful. The crowds were rooting for her and she seemed to be enjoying that attention. She had one of the best bodies, but her catwalk was so bad. She also almost tripped. Chile was so natural and charming. Her catwalk was good too. She knows how to project herself in front of the camera. The way she looked at the camera when she posed, it was so bewitching. Colombia looked big and voluptuous nevertheless she had a toned body and worked the stage really well. You can never go wrong with Venezuela. They always have a presence and charisma on stage that catches everyone’s attention. It was the same here. Though she doesn’t have a great body plus she was smiling too much like she remembered some funny moments. France was very lovely and she had the body to work the stage. I wonder how she was excluded from top 8. She has charming aura too. Guam – the shortest of all was a surprise. She was sweet and beautiful, but her body was the least attractive among the top 16. It’s nice to see sometimes some small or weak sash nations making it to the top.

Before the top 16 competed again in the evening gown round, the host, Katia spoke with Catharina Svensson from Denmark, the 1st Miss Earth winner. Eric Papilaya performed a soulful rendition of his songs ‘Here I am’

Onto the Evening gown competition with the background score of “Lean on” by major lazer and dj snake. Hungary started the competition wearing a long sleeve green gown pleated on the bottom. She looked cool and calm, but her performance didn’t do full justice to her overall beauty. USA made everything in this so simple. Her gown was simple and combined it with a simple look; it was more classy, chic and elegant. Love the bun hair style of hers. Ukraine was very eye-catching in the bold red gown. Wish she had brought in more energy. Australia looked every bit of a regal queen and the shiny gold colour gown made her look even more stunning. She presented herself so well. As always, very bubbly personality. Czech Republic was bright and beautiful in a pink ball gown number. It was simple, but she looked stunning. Those flower beads on the gown were distracting actually. Brazil screamed elegance on seeing her in a white embroidered gown. She carried it so well. And the look she had a calm and warm.Mongolia – I just can’t stop looking at her. Though the gown was a safe choice, she carried it confidently and graciously. Love the way she started her walked by raising her right hand, pointing her fingers just on the face looking at it and dropping it only to look back at the camera, that was very theatrical. She resembles the beautiful and strong Disney’s princess ‘Fa Mulan’ from Mulan movie. Philippines was simply beautiful in her long flowing gown. The upper part of the gown was so appealing. The thin strip of strap on her shoulders with some artistic work on it and the upper gown made the simple gown look exquisite. The gown also highlighted her lean body too. She was calm and composed. And did better than in the swimsuit round. Mauritius gown didn’t impress at all. Couldn’t understand the colour combination of the gown. She did try to work around with the gown. That was nice. Scotland looked red hot in a bold red gown. The red lipstick complimented the gown and balanced it well. Austria looked so classy and supermodel in the shining white gown. I like her performance in this round more than in the swimsuit round. Chile wore a strapless gown. She bounces so sexily and she has got that look which is so sexy. Colombia was the best in this round. She worked the gown so well and carried it elegantly. When she raised her hands and turned around spreading the see-through poncho or cape that was a fabulous performance.Venezuela gown had silver symmetrical lines running on it which was very artistic, but the frills at the bottom made the gown unattractive. Thankfully, we didn’t get to see the full length of the gown. She carried it with style. France in a red number looked very beautiful and there’s something very charming about her. She might not be stunningly beautiful, but she does carry some class and beauty which makes her very appealing.Guam had a gown which makes her even shorter and heavy. I think it was the fabric of the gown. She was sweet and pretty, though.

Up next was the top 8 announcement and those who made it had to face question and answer round. The exclusion of Mongolia surprised me more than ever. It really upset me to see her out of the game. She is striking and intelligent. Had she been in the top 8, she would have given a tough competition to rest of the contestants. I would love to see her back in other big pageants. Hopefully, she will try for pageants again but the bigger one.

The Top 8 Question and Answer  round:

USA
If you were selected Miss Earth 2015 and you were given a chance to speak to President Obama, What would you ask him regarding climate change?

First of all, I would have to sit him down and tell him that  it’s not just about him, it’s about our country because as Miss Earth it’s including being the voice, it’s influencing and reaching out to every single person. So I would sit him down and make sure that we include every single person.

Australia
Do you have any environmental hero and why?

I am from the land ‘Down Under’ Australia and Steve Irwin has been an incredible hero to me. I am sure all of you know he is an incredible activists, conservationists and lovers of animals. And I have aspired to be just like him. I believe that he was one person that inspired millions of people, children, adults with his humour, with his informative documentaries and that is what I strive to do as Miss Earth as well because I believe that knowledge can create change and when people are inspired with passion, they will act and that is what I love about Steve Owen.

Brazil
When you come home from this pageant, what will you do in your country for the environment?

The First thing I would like to do is thank God for being here today and I would like to talk to my people because they don’t know how serious the situation is. In my country, the problem is education, our children don’t have education, we are going through a hard time right now and what I would is to tell the children that climate change is very dangerous and what’s going on right now is because of it.

Philippines
The slogan for Miss Earth for the last 15 years is ‘Beauty with a Cause’ if you were asked to propose a slogan for the next fifteen years, what would it be?

If I were to make a slogan for the next 15 years for Miss Earth that would be “We will because we can.” I want to let everybody know that all things are possible and all things are feasible if we work together. We will because we can

Austria
Compare to our parents generations to our generations, do you think that this generation is friendlier or less friendly to the environment?

I think this generation is friendlier to our environment. I think we have to teach our kids how to live a healthy life and to save our Mother Earth.

Chile
If you would become Miss Earth tonight, what would be your first project in your country?

The social project that we are already running in Chile is recycling. With that, we help people with less money and people who are vulnerable. Right now, we are working in a project in the whole of Chile with the Flora and Fauna Ministry.

Colombia
If you become the female president of your country, what would you change?

I think our current President is making a great labor. As a President, I would impose taking care of the environment to create a green Earth. I will take care of the education and culture of the youngest people to understand that it is easier to have and we have to give them back something.

Venezuela
There seems to be a lot of problem in your country. If you were in charge, what would be the first thing you would like to change?

The first thing that I will change will be education and I will implement the love to environment and the contribution to the same environment. Right now, in my county, I won’t say this is a problem, this is not taking care of it right now, but we have to make the change to help the environment and save our planet. Whichever way, give love to children.

If I have to pick my winner, it would be Australia followed by USA, Philippines and Chile. I wished the contestants were provided with a better translator. Australia delivered a great answer with a personal touch. She was so cheerful while answering her question. Philippines got a bit serious and emotional. I thought she was actually running for some campaign for a Presidency but the way she ended her speech gesturing her hands, nodding ‘We will because we can’ was worth seeing. USA, I thought, was more candid and honest in her answer without being too philosophical. I feel bad for the girls who spoke in their native language. They spoke so well but when it was translated it turned out something else. I am sure the ladies know it too. But it was so cool of them to go on answering without any disapproval. I think Miss Earth Org can do a lot better with a better translator. That’s something we have been seeing at Miss Earth.

Time for the winner announcement. When Miss Brazil was announced as Miss Earth Fire, I wasn’t surprised at all since Misses USA, Venezuela and Chile were still in the competition, I didn’t think too much about it. Then Miss USA was named Miss Earth Water who I thought might end up with the title of Miss Earth Air. Then, Miss Australia was named Miss Earth Air. Now I was surprised. The one who gave the best answer came 2nd. What just happened? Something wasn’t right. I started questioning my intuition. Philippines could just walk away with the title. I imagined the backlash Miss Earth would be getting. Miss Philippines was the only one left who gave a proper answer. I had her as one the elemental title winners in my favourites list. It was just that I never had expected her to win. Then the unexpected happen. Miss Philippines – Angelia Ong was announced as Miss Earth 2015. I didn’t know what to say! Well, it was in her destiny to win Miss Earth. So here she is now. She won. Nobody can change other’s destiny. Surprises are always there in pageants. Can’t do anything when it happens. The judges made the decision. I can only feel bad and pray for the best for my favourites who couldn’t make it to the semi-final or win. To look at the brighter side, I could feel her winning emotions  because she had a lot of responsibilities and pressure to win not just because last year winner was from Philippines but also because which I think she is aware of what she would be facing. The one who isn’t afraid to face their biggest fear and accept challenges stands tall. The road ahead for Angelia might be tough but she has already faced them and came out stronger and conquering the impossible. So I don’t have any doubt that she will become a great Miss Earth Ambassador. She has the personality and the charm to impress and wins people heart. Wishing her all the best on her journey as Miss Earth.

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